Roofing-sheet.



E. G. WELCH, INSANEJ n. 1.51 F. L. WELCH, GUARDIANS.

ROOFING SHEET.

APPLICATlON HLED DEC.31.19!5.

1 51,310, Patented Deer 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

ELLSWORTH G. WELGH, INSANE, 0F CHARDON, OHIO, BY ROY J'. WELCH AND FRANK I. WELCH, GUARDIANS.

R0 OFING-SHEET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application filed. December 31, 1915. Serial No. 69,649.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Y Chardon, county of Geauga, State of Ohio, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roofing-Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in roofing sheets and the like; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what is now believed to be the preferred embodiment of this invention from among other formations Within the spiritand scope thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide roofing sheets with edges formed to overlap to provide improved lap joints reducing to the minimum possibility of water passing through such joints to the under surfaces of the sheets, and reducing to the minimum the surface areas of the portions of the sheets required to form such joints.

A further object of the invention is to provide roofing sheets with improved longitudinal edge formations employing a minimum amount of material, for the production of lap joints between the sheets, of a minimum width and of maximum efficiency in preventing leakage of water through roofing at such joints.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and formation as more fully and particularly specified and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of portions of several sheets constructed in accordance with this invention, and assembled and secured to form part of a roof.

Fig. 2, is a section through the joint between a pair of said sheets.

Fig. 3, is a detail'perspective showing a portion of one of said sheets.

Fig. 4, is a perspective view of portions of several assembled flat sheets showing the joints between the same.

The roofing sheets 1, of the type of Fig. 1, are longitudinally corrugated from one longitudinal edge to the other, with the corrugations so arranged that each longitudinal edge portion of the sheet forms what is approximately a fraction of a complete corrugation. 7

One longitudinal edge portion of the sheet forms approximately a longitudinal fraction 2, of an outward corrugation, bulge or elevation, while the opposite edge portion of the sheet forms approximately a correspondingly opposite fraction or portion 3, of an inward corrugation, bulge or depression.

The elevated semi corrugation 2, terminates in a down turned flange 2*, while the depressed semi corrugation 3, terminates in an upturned flange 3.

The flanges 2 8, are arranged approximately at an angle of seventy five degrees, more or less, to the general plane of the sheet. Each flange 2 3 in transverse or vertical width is slightly greater than the vertical height of a corrugation so as to extend nearly perpendicularly from approximately the general plane of the lowest under surfaces of the sheet to approximately the general plane of the highest surfaces of the sheet.

Either or both of the flanges 2 3 is, or are, transversely curved or dished.

The arrangement of these flanges with re spect to the body of the sheet is such that when a sheet is arranged on the roof sheathing or boards, one flange will depend more or less abruptly from the crown of the semi corrugation elevation at one edge of the sheet while the other flange will rise at approximately the same angle, as the other flange, from the semi corrugation, depression or valley at the other edge of the sheet, and when the roofing sheets are overlapped at their longitudinal edges, in assembling the same to form a roof, the depending flanges will overlap the inner side faces of the upright flanges with the bottom or free edges of the depending flanges engaging the outer faces of the floors of the semi corrugation depressions, and with the top or free edges of the upright flanges engaging the under faces of the crowns of the semi corrugation elevations, and with the upright flanges extending up beside the depending flanges. The flanges of one sheet engage the flanges of the adjoining sheets approximately at their edges only, and the flanges at each lap joint are so formed as to be separated and spaced apart at their adjacent side faces to provide intervening space a, to prevent water being drawn upwardly between said flanges by ca )illary action or otherwise. This space a, is provided for approximately the same reasons that the space is provided between the overlapping portions of the sheets 1, a, in Patent No. 879,708, issued to E. G. Welch, Feb. 18, 1908.

The space a, can be provided for by transversely curving 0r dishing one flange of each sheet while the other flange is left flat or straight, or by slightly transversely curving or dishing both flanges of each sheet outwardly, that is, so that the outer surfaces of the flanges will be slightly convexed transversely.

The lap joints formed by these sheets are exceedingly efficient in preventing passage of water by siphonic action or by capillary attraction from the outer to the under surfaces of the sheet, as well as in preventing water being forced through the joints by high wind pressure.

It will be noted that the sheets overlap but a comparatively slight distance, and that hence a minimum amount of material is required for the formation of a sheet.

The lap joints are vertically disposed and in height are approximately equal to the height of the corrugations, while the transverse width of each lap joint is much less than the Width of a complete corrugation.

One is thus enabled to produce exceedingly efficient lap joints requiring but very small areas of the material of the sheets for the formation of the joints, and hence there is attained marked economy in the manufacture of lap joint roofing sheets.

This invention is not limited to corrugated sheets but is also applicable to flat sheets, such as illustrated in the drawings wherein each sheet 1*, is formed at one edge with the upturned flange 2", and at the opposite edge with the upturned semi elevation, bulge or corrugation 3 terminating in the depending flange 3, so that Where the sheets are assembled a lap oint will be formed as shown. Either or both flanges 2 2 are transversely curved or dished, as before described, to provide the space a, within the joint for the purpose hereinbefore described.

In applying the sheets to forma roof (or other covering, as this invention is not limited to formation of roofs) they are nailed or otherwise secured to roof boards or sheathing Z), with fastening nails 0, arranged near but without passing through the lap joints or seams between the sheets. The ends of the'sheets are usually overlapped sev eral inches and rows of fastening nails are driven through both ends of the sheets and also across the middle portions thereof. Rows of nails are also driven through the opposite longitudinal edge portions of the sheet near the lap joints usually through the semi corrugations from which the lap form ing flanges extend.

The nails are preferably driven through lead washers, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

' It'will thus be noted, that the bodies of the roofing sheets of this invention are firmly secured to the roofing sheet supports by the nails 0, while the overlapping edge portions of the sheets forming the lap joints are left approximately free and in loose engagement with each other. The. dange of p'assageof water to the under surfaces of'the sheets by capillary action is increased where the surfaces of the lapped portions of the sheets are held tightly together and in extensive rigid contact by nails passed directly through the lap joint, and such danger is reduced to the minimum'where these sheets are employed, because of the approximately loose contact of the edges only of the overlapping flanges.

It will also be noted, that these corrugated sheets can be laid either side up i. e. are reversible, inasmuch as the .opposite edge flanges 2, 3 of each sheet are approximately similar in form, shape, and angle, and also that the sheets can be approximately closely nested'for packing, and that the short approximately similar edge'flanges can be conveniently formed in the process of rolling the sheets.

It is evident that various changes, might be resorted to in the formation and construction of the roofing sheets described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and hence this invention is not limited to the exact disclosure hereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet metal roof'consisting of a'series of roofing sheets formed with longitudinal corrugations, each sheet having one longitudinal edge terminating in an elevated semicorrugation having an abruptly depending longitudinal flange and the opposite edge terminating in a semi-corrugation depression having an upwardly extending flange, said flanges outwardly dished with respect to said sheet and the oppositely extending flanges of adjoining sheets extending into said semicorrugations formed at the'longitudinal edges of each sheet, for the purposes substantially as described.

'2. A roofing sheet having one longitudinal edge extending upwardly with a flange depending abruptly therefrom, the opposite longitudinal edge of said sheet having afiange extending upwardly from the body of the sheet at approximately the same angle as said depending flange, and said flanges transversely dished outwardly with respect to the body of said sheet.

3'. A reversible longitudinally corrugated roofing sheet throughout one longitudinal edge having a short flange upstanding at a slight angle from the perpendicular, and throughout its opposite edge having an approximately similar short flange depending at a corresponding slight angle from the perpendicular, said upstanding flange forming a semi-corrugation depression and said depending flange forming a corresponding semi-corrugation elevation, the depending flange of one sheet arranged to loosely overlap the upstanding flange of the next sheet with said flanges contacting at their edges only, substantially as described.

4. Roofing sheets formed to be secured with their longitudinal edges free and loosely overlapping, each sheet throughout one longitudinal edge having a short flange abruptly upstanding at a slight outward angle from the perpendicular, and throughout its other longitudinal edge having a longitudinal upward bulge the outer longitudinal side of which is formed by a short flange abruptly depending at a slight outward angle from the perpendicular, said two flanges being approximately similar, the depending fiange of a sheet being formed to loosely overlie the upstanding flange of the adjoining sheet with the longitudinal edges only of the flanges contacting.

In testimony whereof we aftix our signatures.

ROY J. WELCH, FRANK L. VVELCH, Guardians of Ellsworth G. W eloh, legally insane.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

